Elevated serum interleukin-38 level at baseline predicts virological response in telbivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate serum interleukin(IL)-38 level and its clinical role in predicting virological response(VR) to telbivudine(Ld T) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).METHODS: The study participants were divided into two groups; one group consisted of 43 healthy controls(HCs) and the other group consisted of 46 patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive CHB. All patients were administered 600 mg of oral Ld T daily for 52 wk, and they visited physicians every 12 wk for physical examination and laboratory tests. Serum IL-38 levels were determined using ELISA. The concentrations of serum Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were measured using the cytometric bead array(CBA) method. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-38 at baseline in all patients were higher than those in HCs [306.97(123.26-492.79) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P = 0.019]; the levels returned to normal after the first 12 wk of treatment with Ld T [175.51(103.90-331.91) pg/m L vs 184.50(135.56-292.16) pg/m L, P > 0.05]. Serum IL-38 levels at baseline were positively associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase levels in patients with CHB(r = 0.311, P = 0.036). Higher levels of serum IL-38 at baseline were associated with a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment at 24 wk(48.15% vs 15.79%, P = 0.023) and 52 wk(66.67% vs 36.84%, P = 0.044). The levels of serum IL-38 in patients with primary nonresponse at week 12 after treatment initiation were lower than those in patients with primary response [64.44(49.85-172.08) pg/m L vs 190.54(121.35-355.28) pg/m L, P = 0.036]. Serum IL-38 levels were correlated with serum IL-6 and IL-12 levels in patients with CHB during treatment with Ld T. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum IL-38 levels in untreated CHB patients reflect ongoing liver injury. Higher serum IL-38 levels before treatment indicate a greater probability of VR to Ld T treatment.

Different phenotypes of monocytes in patients with newonset mild acute pancreatitis

AIM To evaluate the numbers of different subsets of monocytes and their associations with the values of clinical measures in mild acute pancreatitis(MAP) patients.METHODS The study included one group of 13 healthy controls and another group of 24 patients with new-onset MAP. The numbers of different subsets of monocytes were examined in these two groups of subjects by flow cytometry. The concentrations of plasma interleukin(IL)-10 and IL-12 were determined by cytometric bead array. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE) II scores of individual patients were evaluated, and the levels of plasma C-reactive protein(CRP) as well as the activities of amylase and lipase were measured. RESULTS In comparison with that in the controls, significantly increased numbers of CD14+CD163-, CD14+CD163-MAC387+ M1 monocytes, but significantly reduced numbers of CD14+CD163+IL-10+ M2 monocytes were detected in the MAP patients(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher levels of plasma IL-10 and IL-12 were observed in the MAP patients(P < 0.01 for all). More importantly, the levels of plasma CRP were positively correlated with the numbers of CD14+CD163-(R = 0.5009, P = 0.0127) and CD14+CD163-MAC387+(R = 0.5079, P = 0.0113) M1 monocytes and CD14+CD163+CD115+ M2 monocytes(R = 0.4565, P = 0.0249) in the patients. The APACHE II scores correlated with the numbers of CD14+CD163+CD115+(R = 0.4581, P = 0.0244) monocytes and the levels of plasma IL-10(R = 0.4178, P = 0.0422) in the MAP patients. However, there was no significant association among other measures tested in this population. CONCLUSION Increased numbers of CD14+CD163- and CD14+ CD163-MAC387+ monocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of MAP, and increased numbers of CD14+CD163+CD115+ monocytes may be a biomarker for evaluating the severity of MAP.

Cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattices with additional magnetic field and harmonic trap potential

We analytically and numerically discuss the stability and dynamics of neutral atoms in a two-dimensional optical lattice subjected to an additional harmonic trap potential and artificial magnetic field.The harmonic trap potential plays a key role in modifying the equilibrium state properties of the system and stabilizing the cyclotron orbits of the condensate.Meanwhile,the presence of the harmonic trap potential and lattice potential results in rich cyclotron dynamics of the condensate.The coupling effects of lattice potential,artificial magnetic field,and harmonic trap potential lead to single periodic,multi-periodic or quasi-periodic cyclotron orbits of the condensate.So we can control the cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattice by manipulating the strength of harmonic confinement,artificial magnetic field,and initial conditions.Our results provide a direct theoretical evidence for the cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattices exposed to the artificial gauge magnetic field and harmonic trap potential.

Association of Estrogen Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in a Chinese Population： A Case- Control Study

Background： Primary biliary cirrhosis （PBC） is a chronic and slowly progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by destruction of the interlobular bile ducts and a striking female predominance, The aim of this study was to identity associations between estrogen receptor （ESR） gene polymorphisms with the risk of developing PBC and abnormal serum liver tests in a Chinese population. Methods： Thirty-six patients with PBC （case group） and 35 healthy individuals （control group） from the First Hospital of Jilin University were studied. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from all the participants. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms （rs2234693~ rs2228480, and rs3798577） from ESR1 and two （rs1256030 and rs1048315） from ESR2 were analyzed by a pyrosequencing method. Demographic data and liver biochemical data were collected. Results： Subjects with the T allele at ESR2 rs1256030 had 1.5 times higher risk of developing PBC than those with the C allele （odds ratio [OR] = 2.1277, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1872-4.5517）. Haplotypes TGC of ESRI rs2234693, rs2228480, and rs3798577 were risk thctors for having PBC. The C allele at ESRI rs2234693 was associated with abnormal alkaline phosphatase （OR 5.2469, 95% CI = 1.3704-20.0895） and gamma-glutamyl transferase （OR = 3.4286, 95% CI = 1.0083-13.6578） levels in PBC patients. Conclusions： ESR2 rs1256030 T allele may be a significant risk factor for the development of PBC. Screening for patients with gene polymorphisms may help to make early diagnoses in patients with PBC.